Chicago Blackhawks fans may soon get their first glimpse at top prospect Lukas Reichel, as the Hawks recalled the forward from the Rockford IceHogs on Wednesday morning and assigned him to the taxi squad.
The Blackhawks have recalled forward Lukas Reichel from the @goicehogs and assigned him to the taxi squad 🚕 pic.twitter.com/woN7tyD8r5
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 12, 2022
The Blackhawks selected Reichel 17th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Reichel spent the 2020–21 season in his native Germany playing for Eisbären Berlin of the DEL, posting 10 goals and 17 assists in 38 games. The nephew of long-time NHLer Robert Reichel, Lukas crossed the pond to play in North America this season, registering 11 goals and nine assists in 20 contests with the IceHogs before Wednesday’s recall, the first of his career.
Reichel’s recall has been hotly debated among the Blackhawks’ fanbase, as many have hoped to see him inserted into the NHL lineup, while others have expressed taking the slower route to fully develop him would be the wiser long-term route. The Blackhawks’ recent trend of “rushing” top prospects to the NHL would seemingly indicate the former, though it is possible Reichel just gets a quick cup of coffee with the Hawks before being returned to Rockford to continue his development. Time will tell, though ultimately, Reichel’s long-term future ought to be prioritized.
The Blackhawks return to action on Thursday, hosting the struggling Montreal Canadiens for a 7:30 p.m. CST puck drop at the United Center.